Marwell Zoo...it is fab!

[dotcom]

we went yesterday and had a great time.

highly recommended.

We hated it.

We loved it.

as zoos go, it's a really nice one

why did you hate it? what is there to hate?

It was the hottest day of the year when we went - most of it was OK (apart from being too hot ) but there were bits we didn't like - pacing cats in small enclosures for instance.

ww....arent u someone who is from the north? wot u doin in marwell?

The pacing cats didn't help.
The crap food.
Just didn't do anything for us.

my kids liked it

we took a picnic!

Watched Shrek2 last night, the cat for some reason reminded me of Edgar.

Norfolk Broads for a week last July, dotcom (we are allowed to go south without passports, aren't we? )

I have to say, our experience last year wasn't fab at all - very hot day and no drink stalls dotted around the zoo open so had to queue for rubbish cafe for 40 mins!
I did think the enclosures weren't great although at least they didn't have lots of animals in each enclosure.
Also, we were handed a form in the queue to agree to allowing gift aid but it was only once you got through the huge queue, they told you you had to donate 10% of the price to do it.
Also the prices were steep. DH and me £13 each and DD (who was 4) £10!!! Too steep and I would have gone home had we not promised the children a day at the zoo.
Not a very value for money day out really. I don't mind paying a bit more for zoos as I know it's really expensive to upkeep them but have been to much better ones, such as Colchester, Bristol and Paignton which were better value and better organised. Sorry for long rant!

LM

Forgot about the gift aid pressure.

LOL WW! Its just Im from oop north and am a namechanger too!!

I didnt feel pressure for donation & just said yes as it helps twards upkeep etc

I don't remember Gift Aid being mentioned!

What we were also a bit miffed about was that we wanted to go to one of the talks which started at 12.30 - we drifted towards the place, got there about 12.31 and the doors were shut - if that had been mentioned in the information we would have got there sooner. So that was frustrating.

Birds, sealions and gibbons were good, and small mammals like meerkats and prairie dogs (they looked very at home in their dry dusty paddock!)

Ohhh, who were you then, dotcom? (Or are you keeping a low profile?)

We've been there a couple of times. Love the penguins and the lemurs.

But last time I was there we did say to a keeper that we thoughtthe panther looked unhappy - very smal cage and it was pacing. They said they were putting it in a new enclosure soon - but this was 2005, so it looks like things haven't improved?

they have improved IMO.

Very clean...active animals....fewer animals in bigger spaces.

Preferred it to London Zoo.